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Sakura Murakami

Reuters

JAPAN / Politics

Nov 29, 2019

Diet deliberations slow as opposition hounds government over cherry blossom-viewing scandal

The opposition camp's boycotts over Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's handling of the campaign violation affair is putting the ruling bloc under pressure as the extra Diet session comes to a close.

JAPAN / Politics

Nov 27, 2019

Abe shows uncharacteristic openness in burasagari interviews, as looming year-end adds to pressure over recent scandals

Since reshuffling his Cabinet in September, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has seen two ministers resign in close succession amid scandal, the thwarting of an educational reform plan at the Diet, and debate about a referendum law key to constitutional revision grind to a halt.

JAPAN / Politics

Nov 21, 2019

Abe's push to change Japan's Constitution hits roadblock as parties scrap Diet discussion

LDP sources have said the party has all but given up hope of passing the bill this year, reports have said.

Japan Times

JAPAN / Politics

Nov 20, 2019

Abe becomes Japan's longest-serving prime minister

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe became the nation's longest serving prime minister on Wednesday, beating previous record holder Taro Katsura by having served for a total of 2,887 days.

JAPAN / Politics

Nov 1, 2019

Lawmakers from Japan and South Korea push for top-down resolution to crumbling bilateral ties

About a year after South Korean courts ordered Japanese companies to compensate for the emotional suffering of Korean wartime laborers, lawmakers from both countries Friday agreed on the need to halt the deterioration in ties and called on their leaders to resolve the stalemate at a summit.

JAPAN / Politics

Oct 31, 2019

Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai resigns over wife's alleged election law breach

The resignation marks the second departure from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet in just a week after trade minister Isshu Sugawara resigned Friday.

JAPAN / Politics

Oct 29, 2019

Japan and South Korea deny reports of joint fund to address wartime labor issue

Top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga emphatically denied the report, saying it is “not factually true,” while a senior Foreign Ministry official claimed the report is “an outright lie.”

JAPAN / Politics

Oct 25, 2019

Japan trade chief Isshu Sugawara exits amid allegations he broke election campaign law

A tabloid's expose on a funeral gift to a supporter ousts the METI chief after just a month and a half in office.

JAPAN / Politics

Oct 24, 2019

Breakthrough elusive as Abe meets South Korean prime minister amid strained bilateral ties

Abe told Lee that the two countries were important neighbors and it was vital they work together to address North Korea's nuclear program.

Japan Times

PODCAST / deep dive

Oct 23, 2019

Episode 27: The enthronement of Emperor Naruhito — pomp, splendor and a ¥16 billion bill

Emperor Naruhito became Japan's 126th emperor at an enthronement ceremony on Oct. 22, 2019. Japan Times politics reporter Sakura Murakami joins Oscar Boyd to discuss.

JAPAN

Oct 22, 2019

Emperor Naruhito completes enthronement in ceremony rich with history and ritual

Sokui no Rei is one of the major events in a series of ceremonies and rites scheduled throughout the year following Emperor Naruhito's accession.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Oct 18, 2019

Japan's SDF to head for Mideast waters, but Tokyo steers clear of U.S.-led coalition

Self-Defense Forces ships and planes will patrol the Gulf of Oman and other areas but avoid the U.S.-led coalition protecting shipping interests in the strategic waters.

JAPAN / EXPLAINER

Oct 18, 2019

Pomp and splendor: What to expect from the ceremonies for Emperor Naruhito's enthronement

To the joy of some, and perhaps the surprise of others, next Tuesday is a one-off national holiday.

Japan Times

JAPAN / Science & Health

Oct 16, 2019

Plastic reuse the most efficient way to solve marine waste issue, experts say

Although marine plastic has become a prominent environmental issue in recent years, plastic is too valuable a resource to ever truly go away, so effectively managing such waste and placing it in a circular economy system would be the most efficient way to solve the issue, experts at a Tokyo seminar said...

PODCAST / deep dive

Oct 9, 2019

Episode 25: The start of an extraordinary Diet

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe set the tone for this year's extraordinary Diet session with a pledge to overhaul the nation's social welfare system to create one beneficial for all generations.

JAPAN / Politics

Oct 8, 2019

Anti-NHK party leader plans to step down from Upper House to run in Saitama by-election

Political rebel and leader of the controversial NHK Kara Kokumin o Mamoru To (Party to Protect the People from NHK) Takashi Tachibana announced Tuesday that he plans to step down as an Upper House lawmaker — for now.

JAPAN / Politics

Oct 4, 2019

Abe opens Diet session with call for social welfare reform for all generations

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe kicks off the extraordinary Diet session by tweaking his social welfare vows to appeal more to seniors and people with disabilities as he targets Article 9.

Japan Times

JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS

Oct 3, 2019

The quiet push to fix fractured Japan-South Korea relations

Almost a year has passed since the South Korean Supreme Court handed down a ruling ordering Japanese firms to pay damages to wartime forced laborers.

Japan Times

JAPAN / Politics

Sep 18, 2019

Defense Minister Taro Kono says Japan not yet ready to point fingers over Saudi attack

New Defense Minister Taro Kono held back on Wednesday from saying that Iran was involved in last week's attack on Saudi Arabia's Aramco oil plants, highlighting how Japan's position on rising tensions in the Middle East differs from that of the United States.

Japan Times

JAPAN / Science & Health

Sep 13, 2019

New Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi vows Japan will take lead role on plastic waste

Koizumi said he wants to make Japan a leader in environmental issues and speak with Fukushima's fishermen about what to do with Tepco's radiation-tainted water.

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.

Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.

By Tomoko Otake

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Tsukuba massif granite, one of the world’s few heritage stones

Tsukuba massif granite, one of the world’s few heritage stones

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